Knitting machine

ABSTRACT

A circular knitting machine comprises a rotatable knitting needle cylinder which carries a plurality of knitting needles through knitting stations. A needle-moving jack is pivotally connected with each of the knitting needles and is movable in a needle-raising stroke and a needle-lowering stroke to effect needle raising and lowering, respectively. Each of the needlemoving jacks has a butt thereon which is received in a cam track which operates to effect the raising and lowering of the needlemoving jack. A mechanism is provided for controlling the operation of each knitting needle as it progresses through the stations. The mechanism specifically effects pivoting of the needle-moving jack so that the butt thereof is removed from the cam track. The means which effects the pivoting movement of each needle-moving jack comprises a movable selector jack which cooperates with the needle-moving jack and effects the pivoting movement of the needle-moving jack in response to actuation of electromagnetic means. The electromagnetic means controls the movement of each selector jack so that a selector jack is moved to effect the pivoting movement of the needle-moving jack or not moved to allow the needle-moving jack with which it is associated to remain with its butt in the cam track.

United States Patent [191 Paepke July 3,1973

[22] Filed:

[ 1 KNITTING MACHINE [75] Inventor: Horst Paepke, Rottenburg am Neckar,Germany [73] Assignee: The Warren & Swasey Company,

[63] Continuationimpart of Ser. No. 824,227, May 13,

1969, abandoned.

5 21 us. Cl. 66/50 R, 66/115 [51] Int. Cl. D041) 15/78 [58] Field ofSearch 66/25, 36 A, 36 B, 66/50 A, 50 B, 50 R, 115

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,025,463 12/1935 Lombardi66/50 B UX 2,124,304 7/1938 Lombardi 66/36A 2,143,832 1/1939 Leedhamm66/50 B X 2,611,253 9/1952 Diem 66/50 B 3,063,269 11/1962 Losert et al66/50 R X 3,262,285 7/1966 Beguin et al. 66/50 R 3,518,845 7/1970 Cerjat66/50 R 3,530,686 9/1970 Martinetz 66/50 R FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 694,844 8/1940 Germany 66/50 R 996,291 6/1965 Great Britain5/1966 Italy 66/50 R OTHER PUBLICATIONS Knitted Outerwear Times, Vol.37, No. 42, 10/7/68,

Primary Examiner-Wm. Carter Reynolds Attorney-Yount and Tarolli 1ABSTRACT A circular knitting machine comprises a rotatable knittingneedle cylinder which carries a plurality of knitting needles throughknitting stations.- A needle-moving jack is pivotally connected witheach of the knitting needles and is movable in a needle-raising strokeand a needle-lowering stroke to effect needle raising and lowering,respectively. Each of the needle-moving jacks has a .butt thereon whichis received in a cam track which operates to effect the raising andlowering of the needle-moving jack. A mechanism is provided forcontrolling the operation of each knitting needle as it progressesthrough the stations. The mechanism specifically effects pivoting of theneedle-moving jack so that the butt thereof is removed from the camtrack. The means which effects the pivoting movement of eachneedle-moving jack comprises a movable selector jack which cooperateswith the needle-moving jack and effects the pivoting movement of theneedle-moving jack in response to actuation of electromagnetic means.The electromagnetic means controls the movement of each selector jack sothata-selector jack ismoved to effect the pivoting movement of theneedlemoving jack or not moved to allow the needle-moving jack withwhich it is associated to'remain with its butt in the cam track.

10 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures [45] July 3,1973

United States Patent 91 Paepke KNITTING MACHINE This application is acontinuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 824,227, filedMay 13, 1969, now abandoned, and assigned to the assignee of the presentinvention.

The present invention relates to a circular knitting machine having aplurality of knitting stations through which knitting needles aresequentially advanced and which includes mechanism for selectivelycontrolling the operation of the needles at the knitting stations.

Known circular knitting machines include mechanism for selectivelycontrolling the operation of the knitting needles. Numerous patentsdisclose and describe circular knitting machines which include amechanism for selectively controlling the needle operation at each ofthe knitting stations. By these mechanisms the knitting needle may becontrolled to either knit, welt, or tuck, as iswell known. Known designsof knitting machines, of this type, have been directed to the problemsof providing accurate, rapid selection of the respective needles'andhigh-speed operation of the machine with a minimum possibility ofbreakdown due to breaking of the needles or butts on the needles.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved circular knitting machine which includes a mechanism forselectively controlling the operation of the needles and which providesfor extremely accurate selection of the needles and minimizes thepossibility of the machine jamming due to breakage of the needles or theneedle-actuating jacks, and enabling the knitting machine to operate atextremely high speeds.

The above general objects are achieved by a unique machine designembodying the present invention. In particular, the unique designincludes a needle-moving jack pivotally connected with each knittingneedle.

' Each needle-moving jack is movable in a needle-raising stroke and a,needle-lowering stroke to effect needle raising and lowering. Eachneedle-moving jack has at least one butt thereon which is received in acam track. The cam track has a needle-raising portion which operates onthe butts to raise the associated needle-moving jack as the jacks movetheretrough to thereby raise the needle associated therewith, and aneedle-lowering portion which operates on the butts to lower theassociated needle moving jack to thereby lower the needle associatedtherewith. Each needle-moving jack has a selector jack associated withit and when the selector jack moves, it effects pivoting of theneedle-moving jack to move the butt thereof out of the cam track. Aplurality of electromagnetic actuators operate on the selector jacks toeffect movement thereof which results in the pivoting of theneedle-raising jack.

Accordingly, a more specific object of the present invention is theprovision of a new and improved circular knitting machine having aneedle-moving jack pivotally connected with each knitting needle andpivotal relative thereto to control movement of the needle, and aselector jack associated with each needle-moving jack and movableradially of the needle cylinder to effect pivoting of the needle-movingjack and the movement of which is controlled by electromagnetic means.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved knitting machine having a needle-moving jack pivotallyconnected with each knitting needle and pivotal relative thereto tocontrol movement of the needle and a plurality of electromagneticactuators at each knitting station to control the pivoting movement ofthe needle-moving jacks- A still further object of the present inventionis the provision of a new and improved knitting machine, as noted above,wherein a selector jack is associated with each needle-moving jack andis movable to effect pivoting of the needle-moving jack and a series ofselector jacks have butts thereon at different locations and theelectromagnetic actuators are located so as to actuate movement of onlyone of the selector jacks in the series.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved knitting machine, as noted above, wherein the selector jacksare engaged by surfacesat each knitting station which control themovement of the selector jacks and prevent wobbling and vibratingthereof.

Still further objects, advantages and novel features of the presentinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which itrelates from the following detailed description of preferred embodimentsthereof made with reference to to accompanying drawings and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a circular knitting machine;

FIG. 2 is a view taken approximately along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views illustrating different operativepositions of parts of the knitting machine of FIG. 1; 4

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a modified embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a view of a still further modified embodi- FIGS. 11-13 aresectional views taken on respective 1 lines of FIG. 10 showing differentoperativepositions of parts of the knitting machine of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 14 is a view taken approximately along line 14-14 of FIG. 10.

The present invention provides a new and improved circular knittingmachine which includes means for selectively controlling the operationof the knitting needles at each of the knitting stations as the knittingneedlesadvancethrough the stations. The present invention is directed.primarily to the provision of a highspeed knitting machine in whichthere is a minimum chance of breaking the butts of needles and thecontrol or selection of the knitting needles can be made accurately andrapidly.

Referring to FIG. 1, a portion of a circular knitting machine, generallydesignated 10, is illustrated. The portion illustrated is shown in planview and is somewhat schematic. The portion of the knitting machine 10,illustrated in FIG. 1, comprises four knitting stations, generallydesignated 1 l, 12, 13 and 14, which are located in sequence around aportion of the knitting machine and through which the knitting needlesare advanced in succession. The knitting stations 11, 12,.13 and 14 areloacted around a circular knitting needlecarrying cylinder 15. Theneedle-carrying'cylinder 15 is suitably driven or rotated about the axisthereof in any conventionalor suitable manner. The needle,

carrying cylinder includes a plurality of vertically extending slots 16in which the knitting needles 17 are carried. The knitting needles 17each have a butt 18 thereon. The butts 18 of the needles 17 move througha cam track or path 19, illustrated in FIG. 1.

Each needle 17 has a needle-moving jack 20 associated therewith. Theneedle-moving jack 20 is pivotally connected at its outer end 21 to itsassociated knitting needle 17. Each needle-moving jack 20 has a butt 25thereon which is located intermediate the ends of the jack. The butt 25of the needle-moving jack moves in a cam track 30, as shown in FIG. 1.

' Each of the needle-moving jacks 20 has a needle selector jack 32associated with it and which is operable to effect pivoting movement ofthe needle-raising jack 20 so as to remove the butt 25 thereof from thecam track upon movement of the selector jack 32, as will be described indetail hereinbelow. If the butt 25 of a needle-moving jack 20 is removedfrom the cam track 30 as the jack 20 moves into a knitting station, theknitting needle 17 associated with the jack 20 will move through thatparticular station without being raised by the jack 20. In the event,however, that the selector jack 32 is not operated to effect the pivotalmovement of the knitting needle-moving jack 20, the butt 25 thereof willremain in the cam track 30 and thereby the knitting needle will be movedin a vertical direction to effect a knitting operation.

More specifically, the cam track 30 is defined by a plurality of camswhich act upon the butt 25 to effect the raising and lowering movementof the needlemoving jack 20. In this connection each knitting stationhas a plurality of cams, designated 35, 36 and 37, located thereat. Thecam 37 may be termed a stitch cam and has a surface 37a which definesthe upper portion of the cam track 30. The cam has a surface 35a whichdefines a lower surface portion of the cam track 30. The cam 36 is thetuck cam and is a movable cam on an adjustable cam which is suitablysupported within the cam 35 and has a surface 36a which defines aportion of the cam track 30.

The cams 35-37 are all adjustably supported for vertical movement in asuitable manner which will not be described herein in detail. it shouldbe apparent, however, that by adjusting the cams 35, 36 and 37, invario'us positions, the movement of the needle-moving jack 20 can becontrolled and thereby the amount of movement of the knitting needle 17can be controlled As illustrated in FIG. 1, the cams at knittingstations 11, 12 and 13 are located in order to effect a knittingoperation by the knitting needle in the event that the butt 25 on theneedle-moving jack 20 is allowed to remain in the cam track 30. The camsat station 14 are positioned so as to enable the knitting needle 17 tomove to a tuck position due to the fact that the tuck cam 36 is not in araised position, but rather is retained in the retracted illustratedposition, as is well known. I

it should be apparent that as the knitting needles 1-7 and needle-movingjacks 20 are advanced through stations 11-14, if the associatedneedle-moving jack 20 is in its position, illustrated in FIG. 5 in whichthe butt 25 on the jack is located in the cam track 30, the needles willat each successive station 11, 12, 13 be raised to effect knitting ofthe material at that station. The needies, however, at station 14, willbe raised to a lesser extent to effect tucking of the material. Theneedle cam track 19, as is apparent from the drawings, is widened incertain areas so that the butt 18 on the needles 17 will not interferewith the movement of the needle by the knitting needle-moving jack 20.Morever, in the event that the needle-moving jack 20 or selector jack 32associated with a needle breaks or otherwise malfunctions, the cam track19 will operate to lower the knitting needle 17 associated therewith ifthe needle is in a raised position.

At the beginning of each knitting station, a press-on cam 40 is providedand defines a portion of the cam track 19. The press-on cam 40 isadjustable to effect vertical movement of the knitting needles and actson the butts 18 thereof. When the needle butts 18 are adjacent thepress-on cam 40, the butts 25 of the needlemoving jacks 20 are inportion 30a of the cam track 30. The portion 30a of the cam track 30 iswider than the butt 25 on the needle-moving jack 20. Accordingly, themovement of the knitting needle 17 by the press-on cam 40 is notprevented by the butt 25 on the needleof dial needles, not shown, and,more specifically operates when knitting a tight fabric, to hold backthe dial stitch. I

As noted above, the knitting needles 17 may be controlled at eachstation so as to welt (not knit) or move either to tuck or knit thematerial. This is achieved by merely moving or pivoting theneedle-moving jack butt 25 out of the cam track 30 at the station'sothat the corresponding needle will not be raised thereby. This iseffected by movement of the selector jacks 32.

The selector jacks 32 which are associated with each ofthe'needle-moving jacks 20 are elongated members having an upper endwhich defines a slot 50 in which the lower end 31 of the needle-movingjacks 20 are slidably received. The slot 50 is defined by a projectingportion 51 which is located radially outwardly of a projecting portion52 which is located radially inwardly of the needle-raising jack 20. Theselector jacks 32 include a central portion 53 which terminates in anend portion 54. Each of the selector jacks includes a butt 56 on thelower end thereof. The lower end 54 of the selector jacks 32 cooperatewith a cam member 55 which effects radial movement of the lower endthereof, and the butts 56 of the selector jacks 32 cooperate with araising cam 57 at each'knitting station, as

will be described in greater detail hereinbelow.

The selector jacks 32 are arranged in successive series with fifteenconsecutive selector jacks in each series. Each selector jack in thefifteen has an operating bu'tt 60 located thereon. The butts 60 on theconsecutive selector jacks 32 of the fifteen are in a vertical staggeredrelationship with respect to each other. This staggered relationship ofthe butts 60 on the respective selector jacks 32 is best illustrated inFIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates schematically the first selector jack 32a ofa series of 15 and the last'selector jack 32b of the series of 15. Thebutts 60 on the selector jacks 32, are also illustrated schematically,and it should be apparent that the butts 60 are located in a staggeredrelation, that is, that the butts on each successive selector jack 32 isat a different vertical level than the butt on the adjacent selectorjack.

A suitable electromagnetic mechanism is utilized in association with theselector jacks 32 to control the position of the selector jacks 32 suchthat either the butt 56 thereon engages the cam 57 and israisedrthereby,

. and there are fifteen in number, which equals the number of selectorjacks32 in a series. The coils 80 are illustrated in FIG. 1schematically for station 12 only. Eachof the coils has a cam member 70pivotally associated with it. Upon energization of the coil 80, the cammember 70 pivots vertically upwardly against the bias of a spring 82.The coils 80 and associated cam members 70 are located so that when acoil is energized, the cam member 70 associated therewith moves into thepath of movement of a butt 60 on a selector jack 32 and effects radialmovement of the selector jack 32 as the selector jack 32 movestherepast. Each cam member 70 acts on a different selector jack 32, asshould be apparent from FIG. 1.

The vertically staggered arrangement of the butts 60 on the selectorjacks 32 and the corresponding vertical arrangement of the coils providesufficient time for the energization of a given coil 80 andde-energization thereof. More specifically, since each coil controls, inthe present embodiment, every fifteenth selector jack 32, there is atime interval approximately equal to the time interval for selectorjacksto pass a given point within which a coil can be energized andde-energized. This time interval can be varied by varying the number ofselector jacks in a series.

As noted hereinabove, each of the stations l1, 12, 13 and 14 includes anelectromagnetic mechanism for effecting movement of the selector jacks32 to control the operation of the needles 17 as the needles movethrough the station. The electromagneticmechanisms are located at thebeginning of each station, as shown with respect to station 12.

As the needles l7 and selector jacks 32 enter a particular station theselectro jacks 32 may be in any one of two radial positions dependingupon whether the needles associated with the selector jack 32 performeda knitting or a welting operation in the previous station. As a selectorjack 32 moves into a station, such as knitting station 11, the selectorjack encounters the cam 55 first, as best shown in FIG. 2. The cam 55has a cam surface 55a thereon which engages the lower radially inneredge of the selector jack 32 if the selector jack has, in the previousstation, been moved so as not to effect raising of a knitting needletherein. In that event,

the selector jack 32 is cammed radially bythe cam s urface 55a into aposition, such as indicated at 32c in FIG. 2. If the selector jack inthe previous knitting station had been in a position so as to effectknitting by'a needle associated therewith, the jack would not engage thecam surface 55a. However, the seleetor jack 32 would still arrive at theposition 320. Therefore, the

cam 55 comprises a means for ensuring that each selector jack. as itenters the knitting station takes a position, namely, position 320, inwhich the selector jack 32 can be selected to either effect a knittingor nonknitting of the associated knitting needle in the knittingstation.

Asa selector jack 32 is being moved radially by the cam surface 55a sothat it achieves position 32c for selection, the selector jack is alsobeing moved downwardly by a take-down cam '79'which engages a takedownbutt 81 on the selector jack. The butt 81 is located on the selectorjack 32 adjacent the member 51.

79 and the butt 56 thereon in engagement with the rais-,

ing cam 57. The lower end 54 of the selector jack engages or is trappedbetween the inner surface 57b of the cam 57 and the cam surface 55a ofthe cam 55. The upper end of the selector jack is also trapped betweensurface 790 of the cam 79 and surface 15a on the cylinder 15. Morespecifically, portions 51 and tip 52a of portion 52 of the selectorjacks engage surfaces 79a, 15a, respectively. In this manner, theselector jack 32 is retained in a fixed position and is free from thepossibility of any wobble or looseness and is maintained under completecontrol.

If the needle associated with the selector jack 32 which is now locatedin the selecting position 32c is to knit, the electromagnetic coil 80,which is associated with the jack 32, that is, located adjacent to thebutt 60 on the selector 32, is energized. When energized, the cam orshoe associated with the coil is moved into the path of movement of thebutt 60 on the selector jack 32. As a result, the cam 70 effectscammingof the selector jack 32 radially into a position 32d (FIG. 2) asthe selector jack 32 continues to move. When in position 32d, the butt56 on the selector jack 32 is disposed radially inwardly of the raisingcam 57, as shown in FIG. 5. As a result, the raising cam 57 effects noaction on the selector jack 32 and the selector jack is not movedthereby. Accordingly, the needle-moving jack 20 is not affected and thebutt 25 on the needle-moving jack 20 remains in the cam track 30 and theneedlemoving jack 20 will effect raising and lowering movement of theneedle 17 under the control of the cams defining the cam track 30.

The radially inner surface of the cam 57 has a cutout 57c thereinadjacent to where the selector jacks 32 are radially moved. This cutoutenables the selector jack 32 to be moved or positioned radially, even ifthe cam 70 is for some reason ineffective to move the selector 3 jack 32completely off the cam 57. The cutout 57c operates to receive the tip ofthe selector jacks 32 and cams them radially inwardly in the event thatthe cam 70 is ineffective in thisrespect.

If the selector jack 32 is movedto position 32d, so that knitting occursby the needle 17 associated therewith, the selector jack 32 is stillmaintained under close control, as shown in FIG. 5. The selector jack32, as shown in FIG. 5, is trapped between a lug on the needle cylinder15'and the butt 56 engages the surface 57 b of the cam 57, therebypreventing any radial movement of the lower end of the selector jack.The upper .85a against which the selector jack is held, and since thebutt 81 is still in engagement with the surface of the lowering cam 79,the selector is maintained under close control both in vertical andradial directions so as to prevent any possible wobble or vibration ofthe selector jack 32 in the slot 16 in the cylinder 15.

In the event that it is desired that the needle associ ated with theselector jack 32, which is'entering the knitting station 1 1, not knit,the electromagnetic actuator or coil 80 which is associated with thatselector 'jack is not energized. Therefore, the cam 70 is not moved intothe position to engage the butt 70 on the selector jack 32. As a result,the selector jack is not pivoted inwardly radially of the cylinder andthe butt 56 on the selector jack 32 remains in the position illustratedat 32c and continues to move in that path. As a result, the butt 56 runsup the cam surface 57a of the cam 57 and the selector jack 32 is movedin a vertical direction.

The selector jack is shown in FIG. 4 in its position to which the cam 57thereof raises the selector jack 32. When the cam 57 moves the selectorjack 32 upwardly, it should be noted, from FIG. 1, that the take-downcam 79 has terminated and does not block any upward movement of theselector jack by the cam 57.

Moreover, it should be apparent that as the selector jack movesupwardly, the outer tip 90 of the portion 51 of the selector jackengages a surface 92 on the cam or block member 93 on which thetake-down cam 79 is formed. The surface 92 is a tapered surface andtapers in a radially inward direction relative to the cylinder 15. Whenthe outer tip of the member 51 engages the tapered surface 92, thetapered surface effects a camming of the member 51 radially inwardly ofthe cylinder l5. Thee portion 52 of the selector jack 32 is therebymoved into a recess or slot 95 formed in the cylinder 15 and is retainedtherein. This radially inward movement which is effected by the camsurface 92 causes a pivoting of the needle-moving jack relative to theneedle about its pivot connection 21 therewith. This results in the butt25 of the jack 20 being moved out of the cam track 30. The verticalsliding movement of the selector jack 32 effects no vertical movement ofthe needle-moving jack 20, since the slot 50 enables relative slidingmovement to be effected therebetween. Since the butt 25 of theneedle-raising jack 20 is moved out of the cam path 30, the needle 17 isnot raised and no knitting is effected thereby in that station.

The selector jack 32, when in the position shown in FIG. 4, is alsomaintained under control to minimize vibration and/or wobble thereof.When in this position, the portion 51 engages surface 79b of the cam 79and tip 52a of portion 52 engages the bottom of the recess 95 to trapthe upper end of the selector jack. The lower end thereof is trappedbetween the lug 85 and surface 57b'of the cam 57, as shown. Thisrestricts radial movement of the selector jack 32. The selector jack isalso under control in a vertical direction due to the fact that the butt81 thereon engages cam 79 and butt 56 engages cam 57.

The dottedline 100 in FIG. 1 designates a representative path ofmovement of the butt 56 on the selector jack 32, while the dotted line101 designates the path of movement of the knitting needle 17 associatedtherewith. It should be apparent that a particular needle l7 knits instations 11 and 13, if the needle-moving jack 20 associated therewithhas been allowed to be maintained with the butt 25 thereof in the camtrack 30. At station 12, the butt 25 is removed from the cam track andno knitting occurs. At station 14, the butt 25 remains in the cam track30, but tucking occurs as described above.

In view of the fact that the butt 25 of the jack 20 is pivoted out ofthe cam track when the needle associated with the jack 20 is to welt,this minimizes the possibility of the butts 25 breaking and causing ajam-up of the knitting machine 10. As a result, the knitting machine canbe operated at an extremely high rate of speed. 7

Moreover, as should be apparent from the above, a selector jack 32 ismoved by actuation of its associated coil only when the needleassociated therewith is to knit at a given station. Thus, if a needle isto welt in a station, the selector jack 32 associated therewith'willpass through the station and not be acted upon therein by its associatedcoil 80 after being positioned by cam 55. If the needle also did notknit in the preceding station, then even the cam 55 does not act on theselector jack 32. As a result, a minimum of movements of the selectorjack are necessary to make a selection. This adds to the speed at whichthe knitting machine may operate.

The embodiment of the present invention which is illustrated in FIG. 6is similar to the embodiments shown and described in detail hereinabove,except for the electromagnetic means and cam arrangement for effectingthe movement of the selector jacks 32. Ac-

cordingly, FIG. 6 illustrates only that mechanism which effects thevertical movement of the selector jacks 32.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, an electromagnetic means in the form of a coilmeans is operatively associated with a cam member 121. The cam 121 has acam slot 122 in which the butts 60 on the selector jack 32 move as theselector jacks are advanced therepast.

In order to effect the vertical actuation or movement of the selectorjacks 32, the cam 121 is moved radially inward of the cylinder uponenergization of the coil means 120 with the result being that the butt60 is vertically raised due to the taper on the slot 122. The verticalraising movement of the selector, of course, then effects the pivotingmovement of the jack 20 which results in the butt 25 thereof being movedinto the cam slot 30 in the manner described hereinabove. In thisembodiment, the pivoting of the needle-moving jack 20 into cam track 30is effected by the reciprocating movement of the selector jack 32without radial movement thereof. The jack 20 may be moved out of the camtrack by any suitable means such as a fixed cam (not shown).Accordingly, the tapered surfaces 130, 131 which effect the pivoting ofthe jack 20 are located on the selector jack 32 and needle-raising jack20, re:

spectively. The cam 121 is moved radially outwardly by reversing theenergization of the coil means 120 due to the operation of a suitableselector switch 133 which may be operated in any suitable manner in theproper timed relationship with the remainder of the knitting machine.When the cam 121 is moved radially outwardly, the selector jack 32 islowered so as to be received in the cam 121 at the next station.

The modification of the present invention which is illustrated in FIGS.7 and 8 is also similar to that which is described hereinabove inconnection with FIGS. l-5. However, the electromagnetic mechanism andselector jack arrangements are of a somewhat different construction. IIn the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the selector jacks 32are mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot axis 140. Each selectorjack 32 is associated with a needle-moving jack 20 to effect pivotalmovement of the needle-moving jack radially of the needle-carryingcylinder upon pivoting of the selector jack 32. Accordingly, the controlof the knitting needle is effected by radial pivoting movement of theselector jack 32 as opposed to reciprocating movement of the selectorjack 32 as in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and lector jack. The permanentmagnets 150, as best illus-' trated in FIG. 8, are arranged on theselector jacks in a vertically staggered relationship in much the samemanner described above in connection with the butts 60 on the selectorjacks 32 of the modification shown in FIG. 1. Electromagnetic means inthe form of electromagnets 151 are arranged in a vertical manner at eachstation and are selectively energizable to attract the permanent magnetsthereto and thereby position the butts 25 of the needle-moving jacks 20in the cam track 30. The polarity of the electromagnets 151 can bereversed to repel the magnets 150 therefrom and in this manner move thebutts 25 of the needle-moving jacks 20 out of the cam track 30 andthereby prevent knitting by the needle as it progresses through thatparticular station. In this manner, the selector jacks 32 are movedradially under the control of the electromagnets 151.

The embodiment of the present invention which is illustrated in FIGS.9-14 has many of the common features described hereinabove in connectionwith the embodiments of FIGS. 1-8. In the embodiment of FIGS. 9-14, theknitting cylinder, designated 200, see FIG. 9, carries knitting needles201 which have butts 202 thereon which move ina cam track 203, which camtrack controls movement of the knitting needle. The needle-moving jacks204 are pivotally connected at 205 with each knitting needle 201. Theknitting needleraising jacks 204 each have a butt 206 thereon which maybe received in a cam track 207 defined by suitable cams located at eachknitting station. When the butt 206 is received in the cam track 207, iteffects knitting movement of the needle 201, as described in detail inconnection with the embodiments of FIGS. 1-8. When the jack 204 is movedradially so that the butt 206 is out of the cam track 207, the needle isnot moved by the action of the cam track 207 acting on the butt 206 ofthe needle-raising jack 204, and, accordingly, no knitting is effectedthereby.

The butt 206 of the needle-raising jack 204 is moved from the cam track207 by radial movement of a selector jack 210. Each needle-moving jack204'has a selector jack 210 associated with it..Each selector jack 210has an upper portion, generally designated 211, which is of a general Ushape and receives between the legs of the U the tail end or lower endportion 212 of a needle raising jack 204. The connection between theportion 211 of each selector jack 204 and the tail portion 212 of theneedle-raising jack is such as to enable relative reciprocating movementto occur between the neerangement is similar to that described in detailin connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 and will not be repeatedhere. However, it should be understood that each actuator 219 includesan actuator member 219a (See FIG. 11) which is movable into the path ofmovement of the butt 218 of its associated selector jack 210 and, whenmoved into the path of movement of the selector jack butt 218, effects aradial movement of the selector jack 210 relative to the knittingcylinder.

Each selector jack as it is leaving one knitting station is positionedin, what might be termed, a basic position, which is illustrated in FIG.11. The selector jack is positioned in the basic position by the actionof a cam projection 232a having a slanted cam surface 222, as shown inFIG. 14. The cam surface 222 acts on an L- shaped butt 223 of theselector jack and moves the se lector jack radially of the cylinder andeffects a positioning of the selector jack in the basic positionillustrated in FIG. 11, as will be described in greater detail below.

After the selector jack has been moved into its basic position, theselector jack moves into a location, generally designated 225 in FIG.10, which may be termed an actuating or selection area. If a givenneedle is to be positioned for knitting, the selector jack 210associated with the needle which is to knit is not moved radially of thecylinder, and as a result the actuator member 219a is not moved into aposition to engage the butt 218 on that selector jack. Accordingly, theselector jack remains in the same radial position that it had when inits basic position.

The selector jack 210 is shown in FIG. 11 in its basic position whereinthe L-shaped butt 223 on the selector dle-raising jack and the selectorjack, this relative movement occurring in the direction-parallel to theaxis of the needle cylinder.

As noted hereinabove, radial movement'of the selector jack 210 effectsradial pivoting movement of the needle-moving jack 204 relative to itsassociated needle and thereby effects a control of the operation of theknitting needle 201. The selector jacks 210 are moved radially byoperation of electromagnetic actuators 219. The selector jacks 210 arearranged in a series and each selector jack in the series has a butt 218located thereon at a unique location in the series for purposes ofselection by an electromagnetic actuator, as described in connectionwith FIGS. 1-3. The drawings do not illustrate all electromagneticactuators, and this arjack 210 is located beneath the raising cam 232.Also in the position shown in FIG. 11, the lowerend of the selector jack210 has a butt 235 which is in engagement with a lowering c'am 236 andthe extreme lower end of the selector jack 210 engages a surface 247 ofthe knitting needle cylinder. As noted above, when the selector jack 210is to effect knitting by its associated needle in a given station, theactuator 219 associated with that selector jack is not energized and,accordingly, the selector jack remainsin the same radial position thatit had when it was in its basic position as it moves through the stationand knitting is effected.

The knit position of a given selector jack is illustrated in FIG. 12. Asshown in FIG. 12, the selector jack 210 has been raised or, statedotherwise, moved in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of theknitting needle cylinder from its basic position of FIG. 11. Thismovement is effected by the raising cam 232 and, specifically, by thesurface 230 of the jack moving up the surface 231 of the raising cam. Itshould be apparent that the lower cam 236 has a cam surface 241 which isshaped so as not to interfere with the vertical reciprocating movementof the jack 210. Of course, this reciprocating movement effects novertical or pivoting movement of the needle-moving jack 204 and,accordingly, the needle 201 is not affected by this raising movement ofthe selector jack 210.

When the selector jack 210 is in its basic position, as illustrated inFIG. 11, the selector jack is under complete control due to the factthat radially inner and outer surfaces on the selector jack are trappedbetween corresponding surfaces in the knitting machine. As best seen inFIG. 11, the raising cam 232 has a surface 242 which engages a surface243 of the selector jack body.

The surfaces 242, 243, of course, extend axially of the knittingcylinder and the engagement thereof prevents movement of the selectorjack 210 radiallyof the cylinder. Moreover, the lower end of theselector jack 210 has the surface portion 246 which engages the surfaceportion 247 and these surfaces likewise extend axially of the knittingcylinder. These surfaces trap the selector jack 210 for proper controlin a radial direction and prevent movement of the selector jackradially.

Moreover, when the selector jack 210 is in its basic position, theL-shaped butt 223 on the selector jack 210 has its outer leg 246aextending upwardly into engagement with surface 222 of the raising cam232. As a result of this construction, a portion 232a of the raising cam232 is trapped between the leg 246a of the L- shaped butt 223 and themain body of the selector jack 210. This also limits the movement of thejack in the radial direction.

It should be apparent that, when a selector jack 210 is in its knittingposition, as seen in FIG. 12, it again is trapped or limited in a radialdirection, as well as in an axial direction. Insofar as the radialdirection is concerned, the surface 246 engages surface 247 to limitradial movement to the right, in FIG. 12, and surfaces 243, 242 areengaged to limit radial movement to the left. Moreover, the constructionof the raising cam 232 which includes the triangular-shaped projection232b which extends into a corresponding recess in the selector jack 210also limits radial movement of the selector jack 210 when it is in itsradial position. It should be noted that the projection 2321; does notextend so as to contact the selector jack 232 when in its basicposition. Specifically, the triangular projection 232k on the cam 232 isin the corresponding recess in the jack and further limits the radialmovement of the selector jack 210, when the selector jack is in theposition illustrated in FIG. 12.

It should also be apparent that axial movement of the selector jack 210is also limited by and controlled by the cams 232 and 236 which engagesurfaces of the jack 210 and are constructed to continuously engage therespective jack surfaces as the jack 210 moves through theknittingstation and knitting is effected by the associated needle. I

In the event that a given needle associated with the selector jack 210is not to knit in the station in which it is entering, the actuatorwhich is associated with that selector jack 210 is operated inorder toeffect radial movement of the selector jack 210 from its radial positionillustrated in FIG. 11 to its radial position illus trated in FIG. 13.This radial movement is effected by movement of the actuator member 219aassociated with a particular selector jack 210, as noted above. If theactuator member associated with that selector jack is energized, thebutt 218 on the selector jack 210 engages the actuator member 219a and,as a result, the

selector jack is cammed radially toward the right, as-

viewed in FIG. 11. This camming action occurs in the selection areaimmediately after the leg 246a of the selector jack 210 moves beyond camprojection 232a. The surfaces 247 and 252 may have to be shaped toaccommodate this radial'movement and maintain contact with the selectorjack.

As a result of this radial camming action, the surface 230 of theselector jack 210 is moved radially so as not to engage the surface 231of the raising cam 232. As a result, the selector jack 210 is not movedvertically and is not raised by the raising cam 232. However, the radialmovement thereof effects through the connection 211 a pivoting action ofthe needle-moving jack 204 so that the butt 206 thereon will not belocated in the cam track 207. As a result, movement of the needlethrough the station will be effected without any raising movement of theknitting needle and, accordingly, no knitting by the needle will occurin the knitting station.

It should be apparent, however, that even though the selector jack 210has been moved to a non-knit position, the selector jack 210 is trappedand under control in the knitting needle cylinder. In this position, theselector jack 210 has a surface 260 which engages the surface 242 of theraising cam to block movement of the selector jack radially of theknitting cylinder toward the left, as viewed in FIG. 13. Likewise, asurface portion 251 of the selector jack engages a surface 252 of thecam 236, which also prevents movement of the selector jack radially ofthe knitting cylinder toward the left, as viewed in FIG. 13. Theselector jack is prevented from moving toward the right, as viewed inFIG. 13, by engagement of surface 265 thereof with surface 266 and byengagement of surfaces 246, 247. As a result, it should be apparent thatthe selector jack, even though in a non-knitting position, is trappedfrom movement in a radial direction relative to the needle cylinder. Theselector jack, likewise, is trapped from I downward longitudinalmovement relative to the knitting needle cylinder due to the fact thatthe lower end of the selector jack 210 is in engagement with the lowerend surface 271 of the slot in which it is received, thereby blockingmovement in a downward direction, as viewed in FIG. 13. Accordingly, itshould be apparent that, even though the selector jack 210 is in itsnonknit position, FIG. 13, movement of the selector jack radially of theknitting cylinder is blocked in a positive manner, thereby maintainingthe selector jack under positive control at all times. As the selectorjack 210 leaves theknitting station, it is moved downwardly,if it hadbeen reciprocated upwardly, vby the lowering cam 236 and, specifically,by the surface 280 of the lowering cam 236, as best shown in FIG. 10.

As noted here inabove, the cam projection 232a is effective to positionthe selector jacks 210 in the basic position prior to selection at thenext knitting station as the selector jack leaves the previous knittingstation and after it passes beyond lowering surface 280 of the loweringcam 236. If a given selector jack was in its knit position as ittraversed through the previous station, the

cam surface 222 would not engage the butt 223 of the selector jack, andthe selector jack 210a, as illustrated in FIG. 14, is in such aposition. Accordingly, the leg 246a of this particular selector jackwould not be acted upon by the cam projection 232a. I-Iowever, selectorjack 210b, as illustrated in FIG. 13, was in its non-knit position as ittraversed through the knitting station and, accordingly, the leg 246a ofthe selector jack will .run into or engage the cam surface 222 of thecam projection 232a, which will then effect a radial movement of theselector jack from the position in which it is located when non-knittingto the radial position illustrated in its basic position prior to entryinto the next knitting station. The dotted positions in FIG. 14 depictthe movement of the selector jacks 210 relative to cam projection 232a.

What is claimed is:

l. A circular knitting machine comprising a knitting needle cylinderrotatable through a plurality of knitting stations, a plurality ofknitting needles carried by said cylinder, a needle-moving jackpivotally connected with each respective needle and movable in aneedleraising stroke and a needle-lowering stroke to effect needleraising and lowering, each needle-moving jack having at least one buttthereon, means defining a cam track for receiving the butts of each ofsaid needle-- moving jacks, said cam track having a needle-raisingportion which operates on said butts to raise the associatedneedle-moving jack as the needle-moving jack moves therethrough tothereby raise the needle associated therewith and a needle-loweringportion which operates on said butts to lower the associatedneedlemoving jack as the needle moving jack moves there through tothereby lower the needle associated therewith, a selector jackoperatively associated with each needle-moving jack and reciprocable ina direction parallel to the axis of the needle cylinder to effectpivoting of the butt of its associated needle-moving jack relative tosaid cam track, means at each knitting station for effecting saidreciprocation of the selector jacks at each knitting station to therebycontrol movement of the butts of said needle-moving jacksrelative tosaid cam track at each knitting station, and means for moving saidselector jack radially of the knitting cylinder upon said reciprocationthereof, and each selector jack and its needle-moving jack having aninterconnection enabling relative reciprocating movement therebetweenand for effecting pivoting of the needle-moving jack upon radialmovement of the selector jack.

2. A circular knitting machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said meansat each. knitting station for effecting said reciprocation of theselector jacks at each knitting station comprises a selectorjack-raising cam, said selector jacks having butts thereon engageablewith the raising cam to effect raising of the selector jacks, and meansfor selectively effecting engagement of the raising cam'and said buttsof said selector jacks.

3. A circular knitting machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said meansat each knitting station for effecting said reciprocation of theselector jacks comprises a jack-raising cam member, and electromagneticmeans comprising a plurality of electromagnetic actuators at eachknitting station for moving said selector jacks so that they do notcooperate with said cam member and therefore are not raised thereby,each of said electro magnetic actuators being operatively associatedwith only certain of said selector jacks.

4. A circular knitting machine as defined in claim 3 wherein saidselector jacks are arranged in a series equal in number to the number ofelectromagnetic actuators, each of said selector jacks in said serieshaving abutt thereon so as to pass adjacentonly one of saidelectromagnetic actuators, and said electromagnetic actuators at aknitting station having a member engagestation defining a cam track forreceiving the butts of each of said needle-moving jacks, said cam trackhaving a needle-raising portion which operates on said butts to raisethe associated needle-moving jack as the needle-moving jack movestherethrough to thereby raise the needle associated therewith and aneedlelowering portion which operates on said butts to lower theassociated needle-moving jack as the needlemoving jack movestherethrough to thereby lower the needle associated therewith, aselector jack operatively associated with each needle-moving jack andmovable to effect movement of the butt of its associated needlemovingjack out of said cam track, said knitting needle cylinder carrying saidselector jacks, and means at least at one knitting station havingsurfaces engageable with radially inner and outer surfaces of saidselector jacks and with longitudinally spaced surfaces of said selectorjacks, said longitudinally spaced surfaces of said selector jackscomprising surfaces of spaced butts thereon engageable with a selectorjack raising cam and a lowering cam, respectively, each of said selectorjacks having a respective L-shaped butt thereon and the one leg of saidL-shaped butt moves on one side of a projecting portion of said raisingcam and the selector jack body moves on the other side thereof, saidoneleg and selector jack body having said radially inner and outersurfaces.

6. A circular knitting machine comprising a knitting needle cylinderrotatable through a plurality of knitting stations, a plurality ofknitting needles carried by said cylinder, a needle-moving jackpivotally connected with each respective needle and movable in aneedleraising stroke and a needle-lowering stroke to effect needleraising and lowering, each needle-moving jack having at least one buttthereon, means defining a cam track for receiving the butts of each ofsaid needlemoving jacks, said cam track having a'needle-raising portionwhich operates on said butts to raise the associated needle-moving jackas the needle-moving jack able with said butt to effect control of theselector jack in that station.

5. A circular knitting machine comprising a knitting needle cylinderrotatable through a plurality of knitting stations, a plurality ofknitting needles carried by said moves therethrough to thereby raise theneedle associated therewith and a needle-lowering portion which operateson said butts to lower the associated needle moving jack as theneedle-moving jack moves therethrough to thereby lower the needleassociated therewith, a selector jack operatively associated with eachneedle-moving jack and movable to effect pivoting of thebutt of itsassociated needle-moving jack relative to said cam track, actuatablemeans at each knitting station selectively actuatable to control saidmovement of the selector jacks at each knitting station to therebycontrol movement of the butts of said needle-moving jacks relative tosaid cam trackat each knitting station, said actuatable means comprisinga plurality of actuator members at each knitting station, each of saidactuator members being operatively associated with only certain of saidselector jacks, said selector jacks being arranged in a series equal innumber to the number of actuator members, each of said selector jacks insaid series having a butt thereon so as to pass adjacent only one ofsaid actuator members, said selector jack being reciprocable in adirection parallel to the axis of the needle cylinder and movableradially of the needle cylinder, a selector jack raising cam foreffecting said reciprocating movement of said selector jack in thedirection parallel to the axis of the needle cylinder, and each of saidactuator members at a knitting station being engageable with a butt toeffect radial movementin one direction of a jack in that station so asnot to engage said jack raising cam, and wherein, as said raising camraises said selector jack, means engages the selector jack and effectsradial movement thereof to effect pivoting of the needle-raising jack.

7. A circular knitting machine comprising a knitting needle cylinderrotatable through a plurality of knitting stations, a plurality ofknitting needles carried by said cylinder, a needle-moving jackpivotally connected with each respective needle and movable in aneedleraising stroke and a needle-lowering stroke to effect needleraising and lowering, each needle-moving jack having at least one buttthereon, means defining a cam track for receiving the butts of each ofsaid needlemoving jacks, said cam track having a needle-raising portionwhich operates on'said butts to raise the associated needle-moving jackas the needle-moving jack moves therethrough to thereby raise the needleassociated therewith and a needle-lowering portion which operates onsaid butts to lower the associated needlemoving jack as theneedle-moving jack moves therethrough to thereby lower the needleassociated therewith, a selector jack operatively associated with eachneedle-moving jack and movable to effect pivoting of the butt of itsassociated needle-moving jack relative to said cam track, actuatablemeans at each knitting station selectively actuatable to control saidmovement-of the selector jacks at each knitting station to therebycontrol movement of the butts of said needle-moving jacks relative tosaid cam track at each knitting station, said actuatable meanscomprising a plurality of actuator members at each knitting station,each of said actuator members being operatively associated with onlycertain of said selector jacks, said selector jacks being arranged in aseries equal in number to the number of actuator members, each of saidselector jacks in said series having a butt thereon so as to passadjacent only one of said actuator members, said selector jack beingreciprocable in a direction parallel to the axis of the needle cylinderand movable radially of the needle cylinder, a selector jack raising camfor effecting said reciprocating movement of said selector jack in thedirection parallel to the axis of the needle cylinder, and each of saidactuator members at a knitting station being engageable with a butt toeffect radial movement in one direction of a jack in that station so asnot to engage said jack raising cam, further including means for movingsaid selector jack radially in the opposite direction as a selector jackleaves a station, said means for moving said selector jack radially inthe opposite direction comprising a cam surface of said raising cam.

8. A circular knitting machine comprising a knitting needle cylinderrotatable through a plurality of knitting stations, a plurality ofknitting needles carried by said knitting needle cylinder, aneedle-moving jack pivotally connected with each respective needle andmovable in a needle-raising stroke and a needle-lowering stroke toeffect needle raising and lowering, each needle-moving jack having atleast one butt thereon, means defining a cam track for receiving thebutts of each of said needlemoving jacks, said cam track having a needleraising portion which operates on said butts of said needlemoving jacksto raise the associated needle-moving jack as the needle-moving jackmoves therethrough to thereby raise the needle associated therewith anda needle-lowering portion which operates on said butts to lower theassociated needle-moving jack as the needlemoving jack movestherethrough to thereby lower the needle associated therewith, aselector jack operatively associated with each needle-moving jack andmovable to effect pivoting of the butt of its associated needlemovingjack relative to said cam track, electromagnetic means at each knittingstation selectively actuatable to control the movement of the selectorjacks at each knitting station to thereby control movement of the buttsof said needle-moving jacks relative. to said cam track at each knittingstation so that the butts of said needle-moving jacks are moved out ofsaid cam track when the needle associated therewith is not to knit, saidelectromagnetic means comprising a' plurality of electromagneticactuators at each knitting station and an actuator cam member movableupon energization of said electromagnetic actuators, each of saidelectromagnetic actuators and actuator cam members being operativelyassociated with only certain of said selector jacks, said selector jacksbeing arranged in a series equal in number to the number ofelectromagnetic actuators, each of said selector jacks in said serieshaving a butt thereon so as to pass adjacent only one of said actuatorcam members at a knitting station, a selector jack raising cam foreffecting reciprocating movement of selector jacks associated withneedles which are to knit, said actuator cam members at a knittingstation have surfaces engageable with respective butts on said selectorjacks to effect radial movement of a selector jack associated with aneedle which is not to knit so that said selector jacks do not engagesaid raising cam, said selector jacks and said needle-actuating jackshaving cooperable interconnected portions for effecting pivotal movementof said needle-actuating jack upon radial movement of said selectorjacks with said pivotal movement being sufficient to remove the butt ofthe associated needle-moving jack out of said cam track when theassociated needle is not to knit.

9. A circular knitting machine as defined in claim 8 further includingmeans having surface portions for engaging said selector jacks whilethey move through a knitting station to maintain said selector jacks inthe radial position to which they are moved by said actuator cam membersand thereby prevent movement of the butts on the associatedneedle-actuating jacks from reentering said cam track in the knittingstation.

10. A circular knitting machine comprising a knitting needle cylinderrotatable through a plurality of knitting stations, a plurality ofknitting needles carried by said cylinder, a needle-moving jackpivotally connected with each respective needle and movable in aneedleraising stroke and a needle-lowering stroke to effect needleraising and lowering, each needle-moving jack having at least one buttthereon, means defining a cam track for receiving the butts of each ofsaid needlemoving jacks, said cam track having a needle-raising portionwhich operates on said butts to raise the associated needle-moving jackas the needle-moving jack moves therethrough to thereby raise the needleassociated therewith and a needle-lowering portion which operates onsaid butts to lower the associated needlemoving jack as theneedle-moving jack moves therethrough to thereby lower the needleassociated therewith, a selector jack operatively associated with eachneedle-moving jack and movable to effect pivoting of the butt of itsassociated needle-moving jack relative to said cam track, means locatedat a select location at each knitting station for selectively movingsaid selector jacks to effect pivoting of the butts of the associatedneedle-moving jacks, and means at each of said knitting stations havingsurfaces continuously engageable with longitudinally spaced surfaces ofsaid selector jacks and with radially inner and outer surfaces of saidselector jacks as said selector jacks move through said knittingstations from said select location, said longitudinally spaced surfacesof said selector jacks comprising surfaces of spaced butts thereonengageable with a selector jack raising cam and a lowering cam,respectively, said radially inner and outer surfaces including radiallyinner and outer surfaces located at respective opposite ends of each ofsaid selector jacks, and said means at for lowering said selector jacks.

1. A circular knitting machine comprising a knitting needle cylinderrotatable through a plurality of knitting stations, a plurality ofknitting needles carried by said cylinder, a needlemoving jack pivotallyconnected with each respective needle and movable in a needle-raisingstroke and a needle-lowering stroke to effect needle raising andlowering, each needle-moving jack having at least one butt thereon,means defining a cam track for receiving the butts of each of saidneedle-moving jacks, said cam track having a needle-raising portionwhich operates on said butts to raise the associated needle-moving jackas the needlemoving jack moves therethrough to thereby raise the needleassociated therewith and a needle-lowering portion which operates onsaid butts to lower the associated needle-moving jack as theneedle-moving jack moves therethrough to thereby lower the needleassociated therewith, a selector jack operatively associated with eachneedle-moving jack and reciprocable in a direction parallel to the axisof the needle cylinder to effect pivoting of the butt of its associatedneedle-moving jack relative to said cam track, means at each knittingstation for effecting said reciprocation of the selector jacks at eachknitting station to thereby control movement of the butts of saidneedle-moving jacks relative to said cam track at each knitting station,and means for moving said selector jack radially of the knittingcylinder upon said reciprocation thereof, and each selector jack and itsneedlemoving jack having an interconnection enabling relativereciprocating movement therebetween and for effecting pivoting of theneedle-moving jack upon radial movement of the selector jack.
 2. Acircular knitting machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said means ateach knitting station for effecting said reciprocation of the selectorjacks at each knitting station comprises a selector jack-raising cam,said selector jacks having butts thereon engageable with the raising camto effect raising of the selector jacks, and means for selectivelyeffecting engagement of the raising cam and said butts of said selectorjacks.
 3. A circular knitting machine as defined in claim 1 wherein saidmeans at each knitting station for effecting said reciprocation of theselector jacks comprises a jack-raising cam member, and electromagneticmeans comprising a plurality of electromagnetic actuators at eachknitting station for moving said selector jacks so that they do notcooperate with said cam member and therefore are not raised thereby,each of said electromagnetic actuators being operatively associated withonly certain of said selector jacks.
 4. A circular knitting machine asdefined in claim 3 wherein said selector jacks are arranged in a seriesequal in number to the number of electromagnetic actuators, each of saidselector jacks in said series having a butt thereon so as to passadjacent only one of said electromagnetic actuators, and saidelectromagnetic actuators at a knitting station having a memberengageable with said butt to effect control of the selector jack in thatstation.
 5. A circular knitting machine comprising a knitting needlecylinder rotatable through a plurality of knitting stations, a pluralityof knItting needles carried by said cylinder, a needle-moving jackpivotally connected with each respective needle and movable in aneedle-raising stroke and a needle-lowering stroke to effect a needleraising and lowering, each needle-moving jack having at least one buttthereon, means at each knitting station defining a cam track forreceiving the butts of each of said needle-moving jacks, said cam trackhaving a needle-raising portion which operates on said butts to raisethe associated needle-moving jack as the needle-moving jack movestherethrough to thereby raise the needle associated therewith and aneedle-lowering portion which operates on said butts to lower theassociated needle-moving jack as the needle-moving jack movestherethrough to thereby lower the needle associated therewith, aselector jack operatively associated with each needle-moving jack andmovable to effect movement of the butt of its associated needle-movingjack out of said cam track, said knitting needle cylinder carrying saidselector jacks, and means at least at one knitting station havingsurfaces engageable with radially inner and outer surfaces of saidselector jacks and with longitudinally spaced surfaces of said selectorjacks, said longitudinally spaced surfaces of said selector jackscomprising surfaces of spaced butts thereon engageable with a selectorjack raising cam and a lowering cam, respectively, each of said selectorjacks having a respective L-shaped butt thereon and the one leg of saidL-shaped butt moves on one side of a projecting portion of said raisingcam and the selector jack body moves on the other side thereof, said oneleg and selector jack body having said radially inner and outersurfaces.
 6. A circular knitting machine comprising a knitting needlecylinder rotatable through a plurality of knitting stations, a pluralityof knitting needles carried by said cylinder, a needle-moving jackpivotally connected with each respective needle and movable in aneedle-raising stroke and a needle-lowering stroke to effect needleraising and lowering, each needle-moving jack having at least one buttthereon, means defining a cam track for receiving the butts of each ofsaid needle-moving jacks, said cam track having a needle-raising portionwhich operates on said butts to raise the associated needle-moving jackas the needle-moving jack moves therethrough to thereby raise the needleassociated therewith and a needle-lowering portion which operates onsaid butts to lower the associated needle-moving jack as theneedle-moving jack moves therethrough to thereby lower the needleassociated therewith, a selector jack operatively associated with eachneedle-moving jack and movable to effect pivoting of the butt of itsassociated needle-moving jack relative to said cam track, actuatablemeans at each knitting station selectively actuatable to control saidmovement of the selector jacks at each knitting station to therebycontrol movement of the butts of said needle-moving jacks relative tosaid cam track at each knitting station, said actuatable meanscomprising a plurality of actuator members at each knitting station,each of said actuator members being operatively associated with onlycertain of said selector jacks, said selector jacks being arranged in aseries equal in number to the number of actuator members, each of saidselector jacks in said series having a butt thereon so as to passadjacent only one of said actuator members, said selector jack beingreciprocable in a direction parallel to the axis of the needle cylinderand movable radially of the needle cylinder, a selector jack raising camfor effecting said reciprocating movement of said selector jack in thedirection parallel to the axis of the needle cylinder, and each of saidactuator members at a knitting station being engageable with a butt toeffect radial movement in one direction of a jack in that station so asnot to engage said jack raising cam, and wherein, as said raising camraises said selector jack, means engages thE selector jack and effectsradial movement thereof to effect pivoting of the needle-raising jack.7. A circular knitting machine comprising a knitting needle cylinderrotatable through a plurality of knitting stations, a plurality ofknitting needles carried by said cylinder, a needle-moving jackpivotally connected with each respective needle and movable in aneedle-raising stroke and a needle-lowering stroke to effect needleraising and lowering, each needle-moving jack having at least one buttthereon, means defining a cam track for receiving the butts of each ofsaid needle-moving jacks, said cam track having a needle-raising portionwhich operates on said butts to raise the associated needle-moving jackas the needle-moving jack moves therethrough to thereby raise the needleassociated therewith and a needle-lowering portion which operates onsaid butts to lower the associated needle-moving jack as theneedle-moving jack moves therethrough to thereby lower the needleassociated therewith, a selector jack operatively associated with eachneedle-moving jack and movable to effect pivoting of the butt of itsassociated needle-moving jack relative to said cam track, actuatablemeans at each knitting station selectively actuatable to control saidmovement of the selector jacks at each knitting station to therebycontrol movement of the butts of said needle-moving jacks relative tosaid cam track at each knitting station, said actuatable meanscomprising a plurality of actuator members at each knitting station,each of said actuator members being operatively associated with onlycertain of said selector jacks, said selector jacks being arranged in aseries equal in number to the number of actuator members, each of saidselector jacks in said series having a butt thereon so as to passadjacent only one of said actuator members, said selector jack beingreciprocable in a direction parallel to the axis of the needle cylinderand movable radially of the needle cylinder, a selector jack raising camfor effecting said reciprocating movement of said selector jack in thedirection parallel to the axis of the needle cylinder, and each of saidactuator members at a knitting station being engageable with a butt toeffect radial movement in one direction of a jack in that station so asnot to engage said jack raising cam, further including means for movingsaid selector jack radially in the opposite direction as a selector jackleaves a station, said means for moving said selector jack radially inthe opposite direction comprising a cam surface of said raising cam. 8.A circular knitting machine comprising a knitting needle cylinderrotatable through a plurality of knitting stations, a plurality ofknitting needles carried by said knitting needle cylinder, aneedle-moving jack pivotally connected with each respective needle andmovable in a needle-raising stroke and a needle-lowering stroke toeffect needle raising and lowering, each needle-moving jack having atleast one butt thereon, means defining a cam track for receiving thebutts of each of said needle-moving jacks, said cam track having aneedle raising portion which operates on said butts of saidneedle-moving jacks to raise the associated needle-moving jack as theneedle-moving jack moves therethrough to thereby raise the needleassociated therewith and a needle-lowering portion which operates onsaid butts to lower the associated needle-moving jack as theneedle-moving jack moves therethrough to thereby lower the needleassociated therewith, a selector jack operatively associated with eachneedle-moving jack and movable to effect pivoting of the butt of itsassociated needle-moving jack relative to said cam track,electromagnetic means at each knitting station selectively actuatable tocontrol the movement of the selector jacks at each knitting station tothereby control movement of the butts of said needle-moving jacksrelative to said cam track at each knitting station so that the butts ofsaid needle-moving jacks are mOved out of said cam track when the needleassociated therewith is not to knit, said electromagnetic meanscomprising a plurality of electromagnetic actuators at each knittingstation and an actuator cam member movable upon energization of saidelectromagnetic actuators, each of said electromagnetic actuators andactuator cam members being operatively associated with only certain ofsaid selector jacks, said selector jacks being arranged in a seriesequal in number to the number of electromagnetic actuators, each of saidselector jacks in said series having a butt thereon so as to passadjacent only one of said actuator cam members at a knitting station, aselector jack raising cam for effecting reciprocating movement ofselector jacks associated with needles which are to knit, said actuatorcam members at a knitting station have surfaces engageable withrespective butts on said selector jacks to effect radial movement of aselector jack associated with a needle which is not to knit so that saidselector jacks do not engage said raising cam, said selector jacks andsaid needle-actuating jacks having cooperable interconnected portionsfor effecting pivotal movement of said needle-actuating jack upon radialmovement of said selector jacks with said pivotal movement beingsufficient to remove the butt of the associated needle-moving jack outof said cam track when the associated needle is not to knit.
 9. Acircular knitting machine as defined in claim 8 further including meanshaving surface portions for engaging said selector jacks while they movethrough a knitting station to maintain said selector jacks in the radialposition to which they are moved by said actuator cam members andthereby prevent movement of the butts on the associated needle-actuatingjacks from re-entering said cam track in the knitting station.
 10. Acircular knitting machine comprising a knitting needle cylinderrotatable through a plurality of knitting stations, a plurality ofknitting needles carried by said cylinder, a needle-moving jackpivotally connected with each respective needle and movable in aneedle-raising stroke and a needle-lowering stroke to effect needleraising and lowering, each needle-moving jack having at least one buttthereon, means defining a cam track for receiving the butts of each ofsaid needle-moving jacks, said cam track having a needle-raising portionwhich operates on said butts to raise the associated needle-moving jackas the needle-moving jack moves therethrough to thereby raise the needleassociated therewith and a needle-lowering portion which operates onsaid butts to lower the associated needle-moving jack as theneedle-moving jack moves therethrough to thereby lower the needleassociated therewith, a selector jack operatively associated with eachneedle-moving jack and movable to effect pivoting of the butt of itsassociated needle-moving jack relative to said cam track, means locatedat a select location at each knitting station for selectively movingsaid selector jacks to effect pivoting of the butts of the associatedneedle-moving jacks, and means at each of said knitting stations havingsurfaces continuously engageable with longitudinally spaced surfaces ofsaid selector jacks and with radially inner and outer surfaces of saidselector jacks as said selector jacks move through said knittingstations from said select location, said longitudinally spaced surfacesof said selector jacks comprising surfaces of spaced butts thereonengageable with a selector jack raising cam and a lowering cam,respectively, said radially inner and outer surfaces including radiallyinner and outer surfaces located at respective opposite ends of each ofsaid selector jacks, and said means at each knitting station having saidsurfaces comprising first means engageable with said radially inner andouter surfaces at each end of selector jacks which are associated withneedles which are to knit and second means engageable with said radiallyinner and outer surfaces at the oppositE ends of selector jacks whichare associated with needles which are not to knit, said second meanscomprising a surface portion of said knitting needle cylinder, anaxially extending surface portion of a raising cam for raising saidselector jacks and an axially extending surface portion of a loweringcam for lowering said selector jacks.